Daily Mirror

VERDICT FROM WAKEFIELD A LOT OF WOOING STILL TO DO

- BY ALETHA ADU Political Correspond­ent

AN hour before the declaratio­n, Simon Lightwood arrived to cheers.

The ex-NHS worker, 41, tried to resist smiling as campaigner­s said they were on course for a big victory.

After he was elected he announced: “The next Labour government has been born in this room tonight.”

Asked what the victory would mean for Keir Starmer’s leadership, he said: “It speaks volumes. We are rebuilding the Red Wall.”

But locals insist Starmer has a lot to do to woo voters into backing him long-term. Marion Medley, 67, a life-long Labour supporter, said: “The problem is Keir doesn’t have charisma. We’re going to need to see a bit more emotion to understand what he truly stands for.” Bethany Beecroft, 20, said: “Boris Johnson has split my family. My step-dad backs him fully but my mum focuses less on him and more on grassroots campaigns.”

Later, charisma or not, a beaming Starmer could not hide his smile as he toured the city with Mr Lightwood and urged the Tories to “get out of the way for the sake of the country”.

 ?? ?? REACTIONS Voters Bethany, top & Marion
REACTIONS Voters Bethany, top & Marion

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